Qin Wenxuan opened her eyes, feeling momentarily dazed.

She was certain she should be dead.

Her nascent soul’s tribulation had been forcibly interrupted, and she had taken a heavy blow from that old monster Fang.

There was no way she should have survived.

Qin Wenxuan was oddly calm.

Her last conscious thought before blacking out was regret: she had failed to self-destruct successfully.

As she lay there, pondering this, a familiar scent of medicine filled her nostrils.

Her nose twitched; as a master of alchemy, she quickly deduced over a dozen uses for this particular concoction.

…Wait.

Her body seemed to have been carefully bandaged.

She heard a soft rustling sound and turned her head, only to see Lu Wei standing there, a porcelain bowl in her hands, staring at her in shock.

Qin Wenxuan tried to smile, but before she could say anything, Lu Wei quickly placed the bowl on the bedside table and hurriedly said, “Ancestor, I’m going to get Qingqing!”

Qingqing…

Hearing that name, warmth spread through Qin Wenxuan’s heart, and she found herself smiling reflexively.

Why did she feel so comforted?

She wasn’t dead.

But after a fight with a Transcending Stage ancestor, even if she hadn’t died, she should be imprisoned, not being cared for so comfortably.

She saw Lu Wei again.

Clearly, she had been rescued.

But who could have done that?

Who would have the power to save her?

The answer seemed obvious.

It was Qingqing.

How incredible!

Even when Qingqing was just a child, Qin Wenxuan had seen her extraordinary potential, but no matter how much she imagined, she could never have predicted she would grow to this level!

Footsteps echoed from outside the door again, more than one person this time.

The ancestor knew who it was.

She looked up just in time to see a vibrant figure in red—slightly thin, yet radiant—standing against the light, like a blazing, untamed fire.

The ancestor felt her eyes grow wet.

She saw that child smile, mouth opening as if to speak.

In that moment, the ancestor’s mind filled with tender, heartfelt words.

There was so much to say!

The ancestor’s lips were already curling into a smile.

But then, in the very next second, Qin Ruqing’s voice rang out, loud and dramatic:

“Ancestor! Qingqing is here!”

Qingqing is here.

The soft smile on the ancestor’s lips froze, and all those heartfelt words in her mind suddenly vanished into thin air.

….

A hearing that was supposed to be a secret meeting among the upper-class families is now being held under the public’s watch today.

The location is set at the Main Branch of Eastern Region’s Celestial Bureau , and ordinary citizens are allowed to attend.

Besides the public, many noble families are also present to witness and listen to the hearing.

Typically, the Celestial Bureau announces the time and place of hearings through official decrees, inviting the noble families to attend.

Attendance is not mandatory; it depends on each family’s willingness.

Usually, families of the same rank as the one being heard will attend, either to honor the office or to understand the dynamics between families of the same rank.

However, today’s hearing, involving the Qin family from the Southern Region and the Fang family from the Eastern Region, has drawn all noble families to attend.

They are all eager and willing; no family wants to miss such a grand event.

The area outside the Main Branch, Celestial Bureau in Eastern Domain is packed with people.

Ordinary citizens have overflowed into nearby streets, and the tea houses and inns are so crowded that people are peeking out of windows.

Although they can’t see or hear what’s happening inside the hearing, they remain gathered, hoping to be among the first to receive any news.

The sky above the office is busy with flying boats coming and going.

The boats hover above the office (as there’s no space to land below), and after reporting, they vanish into the office’s protective barrier.

The crowd below comments on the activity in the sky.

Inside the Celestial Bureau, the atmosphere is much quieter, though underlying tensions are high.

Families that are familiar with each other exchange excited glances and whisper gossip, even though they maintain a composed appearance.

The arrival of the Song family marks the start of a significant part of the event.

The Song family’s representatives are the clan leader, Song Minzheng, and Third Elder Song San.

Third Elder Song San has played a crucial role in facilitating the cooperation between Qin Ruqing and the Song family, significantly raising his status and making him a prominent figure in the Eastern Region.

As he walks, he is seen holding a communication stone through which he receives reports about disruptions concerning the hearing.

Some are complaining about a broadcast fee for an event that was supposed to be free.

Third Elder Song San responds sharply, telling them to leave if they don’t want to pay.

He asserts that there are many people willing to pay for the broadcast of the Song family’s event.

As Song Minzheng and Third Elder Song San walk, they are surrounded by people who are eager to greet them and get close.

Surprisingly, Third Elder Song San is even more popular than Clan Leader Song Minzheng.

The noble families, who are well-informed, know that Third Elder Song San is the key figure behind the cooperation with Qin Ruqing, so they find him more reliable for gathering information.

Third Elder Song San is bombarded with questions, praised for his impressive skills, and commended for the flourishing Song family business.

Song San commented, “Not entirely wrong… But our clan leader is right beside you; wouldn’t it be better to flatter him instead?”

Finally, the key question was asked.
“I heard Fairy Ruqing is staying at your residence. How is she doing lately?”

Song San immediately straightened up, understanding the implications.

It was clear he had been basking in the glory of Fairy Ruqing, rising by association. He responded cautiously, “Fairy Ruqing? She’s doing wonderfully, looking radiant as ever! But, of course, she’s been a bit troubled—you know, every kind of nuisance wants to latch onto her, which is a bit bothersome.”

The question about Qin Ruqing’s well-being was clearly probing whether she was hurt or if there were any doubts about her recent victory over the Nascent Soul ancestor.

“And what about Ancestor Wenxuan of the Qin family? I heard she’s been staying at your mansion. How is she doing?”

Oh, they were trying to find out if Ancestor Wenxuan was dead or alive.

Song San’s expression turned solemn. “Though Ancestor Wenxuan was injured, her recovery has been progressing well. She woke up the other day.”

Some shamelessly even invited Ancestor Wenxuan to recover at their own residence, claiming, “My family specializes in alchemy, and Ancestor Wenxuan would surely recover faster under our care.”

What a sham!

Clan Leader Song directly responded before Song San could, “There’s no need. Ancestor Wenxuan is quite comfortable at the Song residence. Since she’s still recovering from her injuries, it’s best not to move her around.”

With disappointment, the crowd dispersed.

The first act of the drama had ended, and the second was about to unfold—the Qin and Fang family teams arrived simultaneously.

This, of course, was intentional on Qin Ruqing’s part.

Earlier that morning, Song San had come to invite Qin Ruqing to travel with the Song family, but she decisively refused.

Ridiculous.

Her moment of glory, the Qin family’s moment of glory, couldn’t be shared with anyone—not even the Song family, who had already reaped enough benefits.

Seeing Song San’s visible disappointment, Qin Ruqing calmly instructed him to find out when the Fang family would be leaving.

Song San was puzzled. “Why are you investigating them?”

Qin Ruqing replied, “To time our entrance with theirs, of course! Without a flickering light like the Song family, how can my Qin family’s brilliance as a full moon stand out?”

Song San finally understood and became excited, quickly suggesting, “I’ll have someone capture the scene…”

Qin Ruqing glanced at him. “Do as you please.”